Preparing financially for senior year of high school

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(WXYZ) - Senior year will be here before you know it and that final year of high school can catch a lot of parents financially off guard.

Experts say many people are surprised by the cost of preparing for college.

Surveys have shown that students typically apply to between six and eight schools and college application fees can add up fast.

"With college applications now, some of them up near $100, I think that's why it is very important to be intentional about the list of colleges that a student decides to apply to," said Patty Montague with the National Association of College Admission Counseling.

Test fees can also take a toll on your budget.

The ACT with the writing portion costs around $52 and each Advanced Placement test costs $24.50 each.

Choosing a college can also be expensive, especially if it's out-of-state.

If you have to book a flight and hotel room to visit a campus, experts recommend checking out several colleges in the area to get the most bang for your buck.